Page 42 of My Unexpected Surprise
His face lights up like sunrise.
Twenty minutes later Piper arrives in a storm of perfume, sunglasses, and dramatic energy.
“Well,” she says from the doorway. “Either I entered the wrong building or security billionaire, Valentino Ferretti is currently losing a Hot Wheels tournament.”
Nico gasps happily. “pippy!”
He launches himself at her, and the way he shouts that word stuns me still.
She catches him easily and kisses the top of his head before looking at me over his curls.Her expression sharpens slightly with surprise.
“Hello, sorry about this. Hope he isn't causing you much trouble?”
I shrug a little. “I tolerate him.”
She grins. “Why does that feel like a lie?"
Livia stands quickly. “Thank you for coming.”
Piper waves her off. “My floral designer canceled and Dominic Calder made one intern cry before noon. Honestly this rescue mission improved my day.”
Nico immediately starts telling her about the Ferrari model and the biometric security badges.
She listens with impressive seriousness.
While they gather his things, I watch Livia quietly.
She wipes juice from Nico’s chin without interrupting conversation.Checks his backpack and makes sure he says thank you before leaving.
Nico runs back toward me at the last second.
“I forgot.”
He reaches into his backpack and pulls out a tiny toy car. It's red and slightly scratched.
“My favorite one,” he explains. “You can borrow it.”
Livia goes still instantly.
“So you remember to give it back,” he adds.
I take the toy carefully between two fingers and upon contact an unfamiliar sensation moves through me.Something dangerously close to warmth.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Then Piper herds him toward the elevators while he continues asking questions about security systems.
The office feels strangely quiet once he disappears.
Too quiet.
Livia exhales slowly and starts gathering scattered papers from the conference table.
“I’m sorry about today.”
“You’ve apologized twelve times already.”
